e out a bill and proffered it.

"Fifty-four dollars and a half!" read the country divine, astounded.
"Four and a half is what I bid!"

"Four and a half!" exclaimed the clerk, with sarcastic indignation;
"Four dollars and a half! A pretty story! A minister to have the face to
say he could buy an M. I. Tobias gold watch, full jeweled, for four
dollars and a half! Ill thank you for the money, Sir. Fifty-four, fifty,
if you please."

The auctioneer, as if interrupted by the loud tones of the indignant
clerk, stopped the sale to see what was the matter. On hearing the
statement of the two parties, he cast a glance of angry contempt upon
the poor clergyman, who, by this time, was uneasy enough at their
scowling faces. Then, as if relenting, he said half-sneeringly:

"I don't think you look very well in this business, Sir. But you are
evidently a clergyman, and we wish everybody to have fair treatment in
this office. We won't be imposed upon, Sir, by any man!" (Here his face
darkened, and his fists could be seen to clench with much meaning.) "Pay
that money, Sir! This establishment is not to be humbugged. But you
needn't be afraid of losing anything. You may let me take the watch and
sell it for you again on the spot. Very likely you can get more for it.
You can't lose. The clergyman hesitated. The tall and well-dressed young
man with short hair pushed up and said:

"Don't want it? Put her up again. G--! I'd like another chance myself!"

A heavily-built fellow with one eye, observed over the auctioneer's
shoulder, with an evil look at the divine, "D--d if I don't believe that
cuss is a gambler, come in here to fool us country-folks. They allus
wears white neckcloths. I say, search him and boot him out of the shop!"

"Hold your tongue!" answered the auctioneer, with dignity. "I will see
you safe, Sir," to the clergyman. "But you bid that money, and you must
pay it. We can't do this business on any other principles."

"You will sell it for me again at once?" asked the poor minister.

"Certainly," said the mollified auctioneer. And the humbugged divine,
with an indistinct sense of something wrong, but not able to tell what,
took out forty dollars from his lean wallet and handed it to the clerk.

"It's all I have to get home with," he said, simply.

"Never fear, old gentleman," said the clerk, affably; "You'll be all
right in two minutes."

The watch was put up again. The clergyman, scarce able to believe his
ears, he